is about 20 years behind other countries in opening adoption records. Common Law countries, such as England and Australia, tend to have biases favoring families and privacy. From the 1970s onward these biases have resulted in leaning toward open records. The United States should follow suit with other countries and open adoption records in order to catch up with the rest of the world. The practice of closed adoption changed gradually across each of the states and territories in Australia from the late 1970s through the 80s and 90s. 84% in 2010-11 of local adoptions (but not intercountry adoptions) are "open” in
is about 20 years behind other countries in opening adoption records. Common Law countries, such as England and Australia, tend to have biases favoring families and privacy. From the 1970s onward these biases have resulted in leaning toward open records. The United States should follow suit with other countries and open adoption records in order to catch up with the rest of the world. The practice of closed adoption changed gradually across each of the states and territories in Australia from the late 1970s through the 80s and 90s. 84% in 2010-11 of local adoptions (but not intercountry adoptions) are "open” in